Debates of March 27th, 2007

Jean-Pierre Blackburn Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that this government’s wish is to contribute to regional economic development. Insofar as this file remains accessible and the funds are available, we are going to do all we can to try and support the project in question, but we must of course also take budget considerations into account.

Hedy Fry Vancouver Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government is a government mired in illicit practices.

First it seems the public safety minister paid an MP to step aside. Now it seems the Conservatives are using government appointments to entice municipal candidates to step down.

The Conservatives' campaign chair, John Reynolds, boasted he would never lobby the Prime Minister's Office. Now he is under investigation for allegedly offering inducements in a municipal election.

Will the Prime Minister end all contact with Mr. Reynolds until the police investigation is concluded?

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I think we have been pretty clear about this particular case. No such position was offered by the government. No such appointment was given by the government. No such appointment will be given by the government.

Hedy Fry Vancouver Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the Conservative government does not walk the talk when it comes to accountability.

The public safety minister does not have the courage to stand in this House and answer questions about how he got his own seat, but maybe he will answer this.

As the minister responsible for the parole board, did he or his office have any contact with John Reynolds, or the Minister of the Environment, or their staff, concerning a possible parole board appointment for Mr. Terry Kilrea?

Stockwell Day Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, that would be an absolute no, as is the response to her absolutely not factual and, I would say, untruthful and absolutely false allegation that I, or my office, or any officials at the time offered any inducement to anybody to step aside. That is absolutely false. It is not true. She should join the member for Ajax—Pickering in a full apology, especially for Mr. Hart.

Anthony Rota Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine says that when he attempted to raise serious issues on mental health services in northern Ontario with the health minister, he was told he needed to have a lobbyist registration number. When I approached the minister, I was told the same thing.

Could the minister explain this new policy? Why should MPs or their constituents have to become or hire a Conservative lobbyist to get the ear of any minister in this government?

Tony Clement Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Mr. Speaker, that is absolute nonsense. As I explained to the hon. member yesterday, we have something new in Canada. It is called the Federal Accountability Act.

Just because the guys on the other side of the chamber do not know what it means to be accountable and do not know what it means to be accountable in terms of the taxpayers, we know what it means and we will follow the rules, even if they are not.

Anthony Rota Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, they made the rules. They just cannot explain them to us.

The Prime Minister's friends, his lawyers, his strategists and all those close Conservative ties are lining up to sell access to the government, and now the health minister is getting on the bandwagon.

In 2005 the Prime Minister said, “I told my own MPs and parliamentary staff, if any of them harboured any illusion about lobbying a future Conservative government, they had better leave or make other plans”.

Why did the Prime Minister so blatantly break his own accountability pledge?

Vic Toews President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, this government is very proud of the Federal Accountability Act. We brought in the most sweeping laws in respect of accountability, in respect of lobbying. In fact, it is the opposite side that simply tried to block those rules.

This government is committed to getting the job done. The Liberals could not get the job done.

Rick Dykstra St. Catharines, ON

Mr. Speaker, I just want to let you know that no one is grumpy on this side of the House.

The people of St. Catharines and Canadians agree with this government's initiatives in establishing wait time guarantees.

Yesterday and again today the Minister of Health announced that our government is making significant progress on fulfilling its commitment to establish patient wait time guarantees.

Could the Minister of Health provide us with another update today on the success he has had?

Tony Clement Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

I would be happy to, Mr. Speaker. Of course, 85% of Canadians support wait time guarantees and this government is delivering.

Yesterday I announced $48 million for the province of Nova Scotia for a radiation oncology wait time guarantee. Today I was in Toronto announcing up to $400 million for the province of Ontario for its cataract wait time guarantee and for electronic health records.

By contrast, on the opposite side of the chamber, what did the Liberals do when wait times doubled in 13 years? Nothing, zilch, nada. We are getting the job done.

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I think we have been quite clear about what happened.

The Minister of the Environment, who was identified in this matter, his response when he was approached by the individual seeking appointment was that he did not know what he was talking about it. I think that applies to some others who are asking questions here.

The fact is no such position was offered by the government. No such appointment was given by the government and no such appointment will be given by the government.

Paul Dewar Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, we need more. This really is a sad day for ethics in government.

When the Conservatives borrowed Ed Broadbent's ethics package, they told Canadians that they too were concerned about accountability and scandal.

We phoned Mr. Broadbent yesterday and I want to share with the House that this is not what he had in mind when he was talking about ethics and accountability in government.

We want to know, is the government going to do politics as usual? Why will the Conservatives not live by the same rules that they want everyone else to live by? Why not?